Beast of the Bluegrass: Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO-LORD DECLAN BYRNE

I didn’t meet with the detective until late the next afternoon. Unbeknownst to me, Seamus had instructed his security team not to allow police access to anything other than the barn without a warrant. Apparently that included access to me as well. Not that I had been fit to give a statement to the police. After the Irishman had bundled me up and taken me to the manor, I had spent all morning and most of the day tucked away in a guest room, lying on the ensuite bathroom floor between bouts of vomiting. On a side note, Lord Byrne's housekeeper does a superb job of cleaning the bathroom. I don’t think I’ve ever lain dying on a cleaner tile floor. Not that I’ve made a habit of laying on bathroom floors than my own. So, it wasn't until I had recovered from the onset of my sudden illness that I learned the good detective was waiting for me downstairs.

Alice, my guard, brought me the news when she delivered fresh clothing later in the day. Not that she called herself a guard. She claimed she was one of the lord’s personal assistants designated to aide me during my stay. The disgruntled look on her perfect face told me that they most likely drew straws, and she pulled the short one. The long-legged, honey blonde looked as if she belonged in a fashion magazine in her white blouse, grey pencil skirt, and stiletto heels. Not babysitting me. Idly I wondered how in the world she could walk in those heels as I checked the contents of the bag. It definitely wasn’t a talent I had. I did good to walk in flat shoes without tripping. Surprisingly, the jeans and t-shirt in the bag were mine. I didn’t remember much after I the vomiting started but what I did remember didn’t include grabbing a change of clothes.

“I’ll need my keys and phone back before I go to the station.” I assumed the detective was here to take me down to the station for me to give my statement. That’s how it went on T.V. anyway. I spoke to her through the bathroom door before pulling on my heather grey Teddy Ruxpin t-shirt. I was self-conscious enough about my body without undressing in front of someone as gorgeous as Alice. She was looking down her perfect nose at me as it was without me giving her more ammunition. “Seamus took them last night,” I added when my head popped out of the shirt. I could get my dogs, cat, and weapon back after I dealt with the police.

“You’ll have to take that up with Mr. O’Bryan. His instructions were to see if you needed medical attention and to keep you on the property until further notice. I’m also to be present during the interview with the detective.” Her voice was muffled coming through the door.

Keep me on the property until further notice? Suppressing my initial flare of temper, I counted backwards to ten and finished dressing. Losing my temper wouldn’t get me anywhere, despite how satisfying it would be to rage at the top of my lungs. No, being patient and playing the long game would do me better than throwing a tantrum. I shoved my dirty work clothing into the bag and slung it over my shoulder. I didn’t plan on coming back here regardless of what she said. They couldn’t keep me here against my will. Not without kidnapping charges, anyway. Pulling my long auburn hair into a messy bun, I checked the mirror to make sure nothing needed attending to before opening the door. “Praytell, Ms. Shadbourne, why I am being held against my will? I didn’t kill those men.”

Arching a perfectly manicured eyebrow, Alice shot me a look that told me I was a complete idiot. She started ticking of points with her fingers. “First, two men were murdered on your property last night. Secondly, if you didn’t do it, there is a murderer on the loose. Third, that means it currently is not safe for you to go home,” she explained as if talking to a child. As an afterthought, she added, “Oh, a heads up. The working theory of local law enforcement is that either your dog killed those men on her own or you used the dog as a murder weapon.”

“That’s absurd!” I scoffed, leaning against the doorframe. I barely refrained from rolling my eyes. “I wasn’t home when those men were killed and apparently neither was Sheba. She was here.”

“Can you prove it?” she pressed, sounding bored as she studied her nails. Glancing up, Alice frowned. “They aren’t just going to take your word for it.”

“In America it’s innocent until proven guilty,” I replied, hotly. Okay, so maybe I didn’t have my temper as under control as I would’ve liked. Folding my arms under my breasts, I met her icy blue eyes. “The burden of proof is on the prosecution, not the defendant. Even so, I was at work until a little after ten and didn’t get home until around eleven. Since I didn’t hear them dying, I’m assuming that happened before I got there.”

“No need to convince me. I’m simply telling you what you’re facing so you don’t go to this meeting completely blind.” Shrugging indifferently, she gestured towards the bedroom door. “If you please, Miss Johnson? The detective is rather impatient.”

I followed the other woman down to the next level of the large home. Antiques and expensive artwork lined the long carpeted hallway that led to the staircase. There was a lot of history lining the hall of this otherwise modern home. I casually wondered how Lord Byrne secured so many pieces. Was he some kind of collector or was he an art broker? Regardless of how he required such a collection, I winced at what it would require to clean a house like this. Could you imagine having to dust all of this? Yeah, I think I’ll stick with my two room, one bath trailer.

As we drew closer to the study, my mind went back to the night before. I knew what had killed those men. Well, sort of. I didn’t know what sort of beast I had encountered was, but as soon I got a hold of my computer I was going to find out. Google knew everything, right? Not that it would matter. I couldn’t tell the police about it. They’d laugh their butts off while escorting me to the looney bin. That is if they didn’t try to pin the killings on me like Alice suggested they were. Surely she was just messing with me. I mean the police couldn’t actually believe I had anything to do with those men’s deaths. Could they?

Entering the large study, I was momentarily distracted by the back wall made of nothing but huge, paneled windows. The scene took my breath away. It was an absolutely majestic view of the valley, save for where the bright orange spot that was my trailer marred it. Hiding my amusement behind a cough, I took in the rest of the room. Shelving filled with books covered the entirety of one wall. I could get lost in that many books. A large mahogany desk situated in front of the shelving and next to the giant windows. Behind the desk, a large black chair sat turned away from the room and three smaller chairs sat in front of it facing the desk. Dark paneling covered the remaining walls, more priceless paintings hung strategically down their expanse. I couldn’t help but imagine this room as an art studio. The natural light invading the space would make an incredible work area. There was plenty of room for canvas and paint storage. Of course, the carpet would have to go. Carpet in a studio was just asking for a mess. It was almost enough to distract me from why I was here.

Impatiently tapping his foot, a thick, balding man stood leaning against the large desk. Undoubtedly this was the detective I was meeting. He certainly looked the part of a homicide detective. Navy sports coat, white shirt wrinkled and unbuttoned at the neck, khaki pants that needed a good ironing, scuffed black loafers, and a badge hanging at his belt opposite his service weapon. All he was missing was a cup of coffee and a donut. His dark eyes watched me intently as I trailed after Alice. The look he gave me reminded me of a cat eyeing a mouse it was going to have for supper. After it tortured it anyway, cats being the sadistic serial killer that they are. No, this meeting wasn’t going to be pleasant. Not at all.

Going to him I briefly introduced myself and held out my hand. Giving him my best apologetic smile, I told him, “Detective, I apologize for the delay. The shock of last night’s events made me physically ill, otherwise I would’ve been there last night when you arrived to secure the crime scene.”

“So said Mr. O’Bryan. Detective Eddy Holbrook,” His large, sweaty hand enveloped mine in a vise-like grip and attempted to pull me toward the seat next his as he shook my hand. When I didn’t budge, I was sick and tired of being manhandled, he squeezed my hand hard before letting go. His jowls twitched in annoyance. “My partner is gathering up the security footage from last night and should be joining us shortly. I can take your statement while we wait.” Pulling a recording device out of his pant pocket, he used a large thumb to press the red record button. “Whenever you’re ready, Ms. Johnson.”

“There isn’t much to tell,” I told him. Setting my bag on the floor, I took the seat furthest from the man. Just because I had to talk to him didn’t mean I had to be within his reach. Alice took the seat between us. Gag. She even made sitting look graceful. Recounting most of what happened the night before, I kept to the truth as much as I could. Detective Holbrook’s expression said me that he didn’t believe a word that I was saying. Nope. Not at all. Perhaps Alice wasn’t messing with me after all. “I didn’t know anything about the two men in the barn until Mr. O’Bryan’s man called it in over the radio,” I finished, praying he’d wrap up the interview with minimal follow up questions.

“Where are your dogs now?” The predatory look in his eye sharpened.

So much for hoping. My mind went to what Alice had told me before we had come to the study. I would not help him build a case against me. “Your guess is as good as mine. The only thing I know is they aren’t in the kennel where I left them yesterday morning before I went to work,” I answered flatly with a shrug. Quirking an eyebrow as I held his gaze, I added, “I’ve told you everything I know concerning the events of last night.” Everything he needed to know anyway.

Detective Holbrook grunted sourly in response. “Tell me, why do you own such a dangerous breed, Ms. Johnson? What sort of… competitions… do you enter her in?”

He thought I was fighting dogs, of all things. He thought what happened last night was tied with fighting dogs. How could he think I’d be involved with a practice, I refuse to call it a sport, so barbaric and inhumane? What kind of monster did he think I was? I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I happen to like giant breeds, detective. The Caucasian Shepherd, in particular, makes a good companion and is protective. Something that is valuable when your neighbors are few and far between and you live alone.” Leaning back in my chair, I met him with a level look. “A dog like that is only dangerous in inexperienced hands. I assure you, I am not a novice dog owner.”

“Like your brother isn’t a novice dog owner?” he pressed.

“Which brother? Dave, Danny, or Denny? Or are you talking about one of my brother-in-laws?” If he wanted to play games, I could play games. I definitely wasn’t going to make it easy for him. I made a flippant gesture with my hand as I continued, “I have a large family Detective. You have to be more specific.”

“Denny,” Holbrook spat irritably, leaning forward. He held the recorder out in front of him. This was the part he wanted to make sure got recorded. “The brother who also happens to be your boss.”

“And you want to know his experience level with dogs?” Holbrook nodded impatiently. I feigned a puzzled frowned as I pretended to think. Denny didn’t handle dogs, he had people that handled them for him. “I have no idea what his experience level is. I don’t believe I have ever seen him handle a dog. I try not to see him at all if you want to know the truth of it. He attracts drama like a midden heap attracts flies and I don’t need that in my life.”

“And yet you work with him.”

“For him, not with him. People who work at Amazon don’t work with Bezos even though he owns the company,” I pointed out, fighting to keep the irritation out of my voice. Getting combative wouldn’t help my case. Even if smacking over the head with one of the large books would make me feel better. “If it weren’t for family obligations, I would’ve chosen a different career path. Regardless, when he does show his face at the store I find somewhere else to be. The only time I see him is at Thanksgiving and Christmas. If he makes an appearance anyway.”

“Then why was one of his business associates found dead in your barn if you don’t work with your brother?” Holbrook pressed, a fevered light in his dark eyes. A hound scenting blood. I shivered at the thought. “A Mr. Vitor Torrez-Gutierrez whom we were able to identify through dental records. Perhaps he was one of your business contacts as well?”

“Sorry, name doesn’t ring a bell,” I answered with a shrug, never breaking eye contact. Any sign of weakness and he’d bully me into fitting whatever scenario he had in his head. At this point, I was pretty sure he didn’t care what the truth was. He was only interested in making his theory fit. “As for why he was in my barn, I have no idea. I’ve never met the man. For all I know, they were there to rob me.”

“Not even at one of your brother’s gatherings? Maybe he came as a guest,” Holbrook suggested with a knowing smirk. Denny Joe liked having big, lavish parties that he claimed were business related. The kind of party where alcohol and other ‘recreational’ substances flowed freely to prime lucrative deals. I had absolutely no interest in doing that kind of ‘business’. I liked being in firm control of myself and those type of things did the opposite of that. I shook my head in answer instead of wasting my breath. He wouldn’t believe me anyway. “You’re absolutely certain?”

“Completely.”

“Ms. Johnson, we’ve had our eye on your brother for quite some time,” Holbrook began. He leaned back in his chair, the satisfied grin on his face made him look like that cat who got in the cream. I frowned, genuinely confused. There was no possible way he had anything on me. “We’ve been working to collect enough evidence to go after the ring leaders of illegal dog and cock fighting rings along with their cartel contacts. Our undercover inside your brother’s organization attended one of these ‘gatherings’ on your property a little over two years ago. You’re claiming to know nothing about that?”

A little over two years ago I had taken off for a month to hike the Appalachian Trail. Alone with my dogs, totally unplugged. No way to verify my whereabouts during that entire month. Dollars to donuts, that was when the ‘gathering’ had happened. And it would be right up Denny Joe’s alley to host a dog fight on my property while I was out of town. I can hear him now, ‘It’s only wrong if you get caught Kaylea, and I have no intention of getting caught’. Apparently the idiot had been caught and just didn’t know yet. And he was dragging me down with him. I opened my mouth to tell the detective as much, but Alice spoke up before I could. “I think it is time to call in a lawyer, Detective,” she said, coming to her feet. Smiling sweetly at him, she added, “You wouldn’t want this to be thrown out because you mishandled it, after all. Unless you are planning on arresting her, of course. In that case, you need to read her her Miranda rights and get on with it.”

Pressing the red button a second time, the detective sneered at her, “If she wants a lawyer, she’d best be calling one. I have her and her brother dead to rights for several felony charges besides last night’s murder. No lawyer will stop me from putting them both behind bars where they belong once I get the green light from the captain. You can put money on it,” He paused and looked towards the door as Seamus and another man dressed like the detective entered the study. The man gave the detective a questioning look. “Do you have the tapes for the past 48 hours Merrick?” Holbrook barked, coming to his feet. When Merrick nodded and held up a DVD in a protective case, Holbrook jerked his head towards the door and headed towards him. “Come on, we have work to do. We will be back once we have our warrant in hand. Unless you’ve changed your mind about allowing us to search your trailer and vehicle for evidence? Or willingly surrender the dog in question? If you cooperate, we can work a plea deal.”

The last part he directed at me. He could have Sheba over my dead body. “While I have nothing to hide, I’d rather not have you pawing through my things based on some misguided theory you’re pursuing,” I said, ignoring the warning looks from both Seamus and Alice. They seriously didn’t think I was stupid enough to give them permission to search without cause, did they? “I’ll have my lawyer get in touch.” Not that I had a lawyer, but how hard would it be to get one?

“Don’t leave town Ms. Johnson,” Detective Holbrook told me, jabbing a finger in my direction. Turning toward the exit, he gestured at the other detective. “Come on Merrick. We’ve got to get these back to the station and get the ball rolling.”

The three of us watched them leave in silence. As soon as the detectives shut the door behind them, I stuck my hand out in Seamus’ direction. “Phone, gun, keys,” I demanded. The police were a problem for later. Right now, I needed to get my stuff back and go home before dark. Flashing me an impudent grin, the big Irishman shook his head and took the detective’s vacated seat. Glaring down at him and his smirk, I added hotly, “Fine. I can live without them if you won’t give them back. I’m going home tonight regardless.”

"I've no doubt, lass," Seamus agreed, growing serious. He leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. "But before I give ye anything or let ye leave, we need to talk about last night."

I could feel the blood drain from my face and my anger was suffocated by the fear lurking below the surface. I didn't need him to spell it out to know exactly what he was referring to. And I didn't want to talk about. I didn't want to acknowledge what I had seen to someone else. I didn't want to make it real. "What about last night? I mean you were there. Your guys found the dead men. I'm sure whatever killed them is long gone. What else is there to talk about?"

Alice and Seamus shared an unreadable look before she rolled her eyes. "Phah lass, you know what we need to talk about. This isn’t the time fer games." His gentle tone was worse than if he had been harsh. “We need to talk about what you saw.”

"An empty kennel and an abandoned truck was all I saw. Same as you," I insisted, hoping against hope he’d drop it. A vain hope, true, but I’ve always tended to go for the long shots. I usually missed them but I didn’t want to dwell on that at the moment.

"If she doesn't want to admit to what she saw, what is the point in making her?" Alice interjected coolly. Sitting legs crossed, Seamus was the sole focus of her attention. It was like I wasn’t even in the room. "It doesn't make a whit of difference to us. Even if they kill her, they won't bother us unless they want to start a war."

So much for female solidarity, I thought sarcastically. "The ice queen is right,” I agreed sweetly. I studiously ignored the death stare Alice sent my way. I mean, what did she expect after a comment like that? That I’d disregard it? Come on, the colour choice of my trailer should tell her I’m not that mature. “It really doesn't affect your lordling or his safety, so what’s the point?”

"The point is we don't operate that way," a deep voice spoke from behind the desk. I jumped in fright as the large black chair swiveled to face us, revealing what had to be Lord Declan Byrne. Alice seemed as surprised to find him there as I was, unlike Seamus who hadn’t even flinched. The lord looked nothing at all like I expected. I had him pegged as a short, round man with fiery red hair that had uncanny resemblance to a leprechaun. I couldn’t have been further from reality. Fair complected, clean shaven, and black hair tied at the nape of his neck, he looked more pirate than fairy. A large, imposing pirate minus the eyepatch. Leaning back into his chair, eyes that were a blue green fire homed in on Alice. "You have been with me long enough to know that, Ms. Shadbourne. After this meeting is concluded, you and I are going to have a little chat concerning the interview with Detective Holbrook. You gave that detective way too much lea way for my liking."

Bowing her head in deference, the blonde murmured, "Yes my lord." My eyebrows climbed to my hairline in shock. All the cool indifference and frigid disdain had vanished replaced by an air of subservience. What kind of man was Lord Byrne that someone like Alice would defer to him like that? “I will do better in the future.”

“I expect as much.” He nodded, satisfied with her response. Then those blue green eyes found me and my breath caught at the full weight of that gaze. Okay, so maybe I could understand why Alice changed her tune the way she did. The man had a presence that was almost overpowering. Which meant that I couldn’t afford to give an inch or he’d take a mile. Not going to happen. Not if I could help it. "Miss Johnson, under other circumstances, I would allow you to pretend you hadn't seen anything. In fact, I would've encouraged it. There are things outside of the mundane purview that are better left alone by those not a part of that world. Unfortunately, that isn't an option," Lord Byrne nodded in Seamus' direction, who was sitting across from me with a smug look plastered on his face. Like a sibling who got their sister in trouble. I was so going to make him pay later for that look. Maybe I’d make him brownies. I was fairly certain I still had a bottle of laxative in my bathroom cabinet. "O'Bryan will go over what you need to know and set up security at your... residence." I suppressed my amusement. I could tell it pained him to call my trailer that. "Until then, you'll stay here as my guest."

I stiffened. I was forty years old and could take care of myself. I didn’t need an overbearing neighbor to do it for me. Besides, I already had a security system at the trailer. It was called Sheba and the rifle by the front door. "With all due respect, I decline." Rising to my feet I grabbed my bag from the floor. “I’m going home, with my animals. Alone.” I shot Seamus a level look before returning my attention to the lordling. “I can find out what I need to know with a google search. And I won’t be going out after dark for a while… which is why I need to head home now.” I glanced out the window at the darkening sky. “You know, before the sun sets.”

I could see a muscle twitching in his well shaped jaw as he clenched his teeth. Apparently, Lord Byrne wasn’t used to being told no. Well, everyone needs to be told ‘no’ occasionally. It was character building. However, as I watched his face grow red in anger I started questioning the wisdom of me doing it. I suppressed the sudden urge to step back from him. “You decline?” He finally ground out, tone even and his expression stony. “You’re going to ‘google’ what you saw?” He slowly rose to his feet, eyes seeming to glow in his anger. Towering over me, I decided he was definitely taller than Seamus. I took a step back as he appeared to swell even bigger.

Well, I couldn’t back down now. “It doesn’t matter what I saw. That trailer has been my home for the last twenty years and I’m not going to allow anything to run me from home without a fight. Including you,” I told him calmly, refusing to look away. In all honesty, I didn’t want to go back to my trailer. Fear churned uncomfortably in my stomach at the thought of going back. I was terrified that creature would be waiting to finish what it started. That fact alone was why I needed to go back. I needed to face that fear or it would haunt me the rest of my life. “If I don’t hold my ground now, I don’t deserve to live there later after the danger is gone. Besides, aren’t the police watching my place?”

He and Seamus shared an unreadable look, the head of security giving his lord an almost imperceptible nod. I narrowed my eyes at them. I hated when people did that. Have private conversations without saying a word. Then Lord Byrne turned his attention back to me, his anger tightly reined in. “They are,” he agreed slowly. “And as soon as the police see your dog, they’ll collect her as evidence.”

I opened my mouth to argue and then shut it. Curse the man, he had a point. I would be handing them their ‘murder weapon’ if I brought her back to the trailer with me. I’m sure they’d have a warrant ready and waiting for Sheba as soon as I stepped foot on my property with her. “Fair point,” I conceded grudgingly. I blew out a breath. I wasn’t above asking for help when the situation called for it but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow my ego. And asking him to keep her until I figured something out wasn’t giving in. “Would you be willing to keep her here, out of sight, until I can make other arrangements? I can pay for her room and board. Money isn’t an issue.” I wasn’t rich but I could scrape up whatever I needed to in a pinch.

Lord Byrne shook his head. “No money. I have plenty of that and don’t need more,” he replied as he retook his seat. Leaning back into his chair, he folded his arms across his chest and quirked an eyebrow. “Sheba can stay here on one condition-“

“What sort of condition?” I asked reflexively, interrupting him. When people invoked conditions for favours, it generally wasn’t in my favour.

“The condition that Ms. Shadbourne accompany you home,” Lord Byrne answered when he was sure I was finished speaking. He looked a little annoyed at being interrupted. “And stay with you until I can get matters settled.”

I’m not sure if the strangled sound came from me or Alice, but she recovered first. Standing up, she took a step towards the desk. “Surely you can send someone else, sir. You need me here.”

“Consider it punishment for allowing Detective Holbrook too much leeway,” he said, not taking his eyes from me. He leaned back in his chair and quirked an eyebrow questioningly. “Well?”

I glared at him. A younger me would’ve told him to take his offer and shove it, gathered up my animals, and probably been arrested for assaulting the officer that tried to take Sheba. Honestly, a younger me most likely wouldn’t have gone with Seamus to begin with. Fiercely independent and impulsive, I did a lot of stupid stuff when I was younger. Fortunately, the lessons I learned from doing that stupid stuff stuck. “Until matters get settled is a bit vague and open ended,” I pointed out, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “What matters, specifically, are you referring to? The murder investigation or the…the…” I swallowed. I couldn’t bring myself to say it. Admitting what I saw would make it real in a way I couldn’t ignore. And I desperately wanted to ignore it. “The investigation won’t be resolved for some time, and I don’t think her highness would enjoy rooming with me until it is.” I know I wouldn’t enjoy it, but he didn’t need to know that.

Pressing his lips into a thin line, Lord Byrne studied me as if I was a strange animal. Or maybe a puzzle to be worked out. I suppose he wasn’t used to bargaining with commoners. Or people questioning him in general. “The matter should take only a day, two at most, to resolve. I don’t intend to subject Ms. Shadbourne to your… hospitality for longer than that.”

“24 hours, no longer than that, and I get my phone, keys, and gun back,” I countered. The man had me between a rock and a hard place but that didn’t mean I couldn’t try to negotiate. If I couldn’t have my way completely, neither could he. “Then we’ll have a deal. If it takes longer than a day to resolve the matter, I’ll be on my own.”

Again, an unreadable look passed between Seamus and Lord Byrne. Seamus gave him another barely perceptible nod. I was beginning to think they were doing it to simply irritate me. “You have a bargain, Ms. Johnson,” Lord Byrne agreed, finally. “I hope for your sake, you know what you’re about.”

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I dreaded what I would find at the trailer. Fear soured my stomach at the very thought of going back. Would that thing be there waiting for me? Or would it wait until I was alone to come back and finish what it started? Brightside was if the wolfman thing killed me, I wouldn't have to worry about finding a lawyer. Not even going down the side of the hill wedged in the back of a UTV was enough of a distraction. Every time we hit a hard bump it felt like I was going to bounce out of the small dump bed of the utility vehicle. If I hadn’t of been sitting on my bag, I probably would’ve lost it halfway through. Not that I would’ve noticed until later with my eyes screwed shut. It was less terrifying if I couldn’t see how steep the hillside was.

Pulling up beside my Paseo, Seamus shut the motor off and peered at me over his shoulder. “It’s safe to open yer eyes now.” I peeled open my eyes to glare at him before I tried unwedging myself. My limbs were stiff and uncooperative, a reminder from my body that I wasn’t as young as my mind thought I was but I finally managed to sit up. Removing my bag from under me, I took my purse from him. Seamus wasn’t outright laughing at me but amusement laced his tone. “I didn’t think it wise to leave it in the twin cam. I put the keys and such inside it. Do ya need help getting out of the back?”

“You’ve helped enough, thank you very much,” I grumbled, rolling to my knees. Just because I wasn’t twenty years old anymore didn’t mean I couldn’t get to my feet on my own. Standing, I grabbed my things and hopped out of the back. Alice was already off the vehicle, staring disgustedly at my humble abode. Memories of the night before threatened to undo me as I forced a smile. Poking the bear a little would serve well as a distraction. “Welcome to my home, your highness. It’s not much but I do have a guest room, so you won’t have to sleep on the couch. The mattress isn’t very lumpy and there shouldn’t be any bed bugs… though it has been a hot minute since I sprayed. It’s a good thing you won’t be here long enough to need a shower, though. The water heater is a bit finicky.”

Glowering at me Alice sniffed and addressed Seamus. “Maybe you could talk some sense to him. Get him to send someone more… qualified.”

“Or not send anyone at all,” I quipped, irritably. “I’m forty years old, I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I think ya both need your bottoms paddled if ya want my opinion,” Seamus answered, distractedly. He was scanning the surrounding area, blue eyes never staying on one point for long. I swallowed hard. I knew what he was looking for. I stood there staring out at the tree line, my anxiety surging. “Are ya going to go inside Kaylea Raye or stand out here all night?” he prodded, after a moment.

I shook my head to clear it. “Right,” I mumbled, opening my purse to locate my keys. After a few moments of digging, I pulled out my phone and keys. I unlocked the door and flipped on the light. I paused a moment in the doorway to scan the open plan living and kitchen area for anything off. Everything looked like it should, lived in but not trashed. I closed my eyes in relief and stepped inside. “I’ll go fetch the dogfood to take back with you, Seamus,” I said. Setting my bags on the couch, I threw the keys on the island and powered on my phone. With a sweeping gesture, I added off handedly, “Make yourself at home.”

I kept the dog food in the utility room located just off the kitchen. Not apart of the original floor plan, I had the room added when I updated the double wide a few years back. It served as a laundry and dog room, complete with a doggie wash station. A must have if you plan on doing your own dog grooming instead of paying someone else to do it. “I wasn’t expecting the inside to be so charming,” Seamus remarked as he followed me to the closet where I stored the animal supplies. “Especially since the outside is so hideous.”

“Keep complaining about it and I’ll add more to it’s ‘charm’,” I promised him, distractedly. I had unlocked my phone and was looking through my messages. Mom had called about twenty times. No surprise there if the murders were in the news. A text from work saying they had gotten my message about the repairs. A number of other missed calls from various family members who had gotten wind of the murders. Slipping my phone into my back pocket, I opened the closet and pointed to the 40lb bag of dog food. “There you go, muscles. That will be good for three weeks though I don’t intend to leave them with you that long.”

“Ya do realize that detective isn’t going to leave ya alone until he gets what he wants,” Seamus pointed out while lifting dogfood and slinging it over one shoulder. The man made it look like that bag weighed nothing. He didn’t even grunt when he picked it up

I shrugged. “He is the least of my problems at the moment. Unless someone has fabricated evidence, the police have nothing to tie me to this other than location. And I have no idea why either of those men would be in my barn.” My back pocket vibrated. Pulling out my phone, I remarked, “Regardless, I need to hire a good lawyer. Someone not based in Bullitt County. I don’t trust a Bullitt County lawyer not to be tied up in local politics with the police.”

I followed Seamus out of the room. Opening a new text from an unknown number, I read, ‘Meet me @ the iron furnace @ noon tomorrow. Alone. DJ.’ So, Denny Joe wanted to meet did he? I know I had a few choice words to say to him. And if he thought I would help cover for him with the police, he had another thing coming. Shared blood or not, he was on his own. “Do you have any alcohol in here?” Alice asked, as she rummaged through the fridge. “Preferably wine.”

“Nope, don’t touch the stuff,” I answered absently, my mind going a million miles a minute. I had a lawyer to find, research to do and plans to make. I frowned at Alice’s back, chewing my lip in thought. Top on the list was how to ditch my babysitter to make the meeting with my brother. I agreed to let her stay with me for 24 hours, but what ‘stay with me’ meant was up to interpretation. Pocketing my phone, I prepared to find out what her interpretation was.